Tilt or inversion indicator

ABSTRACT

A tilt or inversion indicator is formed of molded, transparent resin with a generally plane back and with a storage chamber for flowable colored particles, an indicator chamber, and a connecting passageway recessed forward relative to the plane back. Printed material is formed directly on the plane back to be read through the transparent resin from the front of the indicator, and a backing sheet is applied over the printed material. Adhesive on the backing sheet secures the back of the indicator to a container so the printed material is protected by the resin and is also visible. An actuator channel extends transversely across the passageway and opens outward at one edge of the indicator, and a resin actuator rod is housed in the actuator channel and extends outward from one edge of the indicator for blocking the passageway until the rod is slid outward from the channel to actuate the indicator.

United States Patent 1191 Lander Dec. 16, I975 1 TILT OR INVERSION INDICATOR William M. Lander, l-lorseheads, NY.

[73] Assignee: Index Packages, Inc., l-lorseheads,

[75] Inventor:

221 Filed: N0v.6, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 521,345

[52] US. Cl. 116/124 R; 116/114 AH [51] Int. Cl. G01C 9/10 [58] Field of Search..... 116/114 AH, 114 R, 124 R;

Primary Examiner-S. Clement Swisher Assistant Examiner-Denis E. Corr Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stonebraker, Shepard & Stephens 5 7] ABSTRACT A tilt or inversion indicator is formed of molded, transparent resin with a generally plane back and with a storage chamber for flowable colored particles, an indicator chamber, and a connecting passageway recessed forward relative to the plane back. Printed material is formed directly on the plane back to be read through the transparent resin from the front of the indicator, and a backing sheet is applied over the printed material. Adhesive on the backing sheet secures the back of the indicator to a container so the printed material is protected by the resin and is also visible. An actuator channel extends transversely across the passageway and opens outward at one edge of the indicator, and a resin actuator rod is housed in the actuator channel and extends outward from one edge of the indicator for blocking the passageway until the rod is slid outward from the channel to actuate the indicator.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patfint Dec. 16,1975 3,926,144

TILT OR INVERSION INDICATOR THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT This invention improves upon a line of development of inversion or tilt indicators represented by-previous US. Pat. Nos. 3,467,053 and 3,688,734, which showed indicators made of diecut cardboard laminates with printing and instructions on their front faces. The improved indicator is formed of molded resin material, is simpler and cheaper to manufacture, is more attractive in appearance, is more secure and less susceptible to damage during rough handling of containers to which it is attached, and is conveniently and easily actuated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive indicator is formed of molded transparent resin material with a generally plane back and with storage and indicator chambers and a connecting passageway recessed forward relative to the plane back for protection by the resin. Printed material is formed directly on the plane back around the storage and indicator chambers to be read through the transparent resin from the front of the indicator. a backing sheet is secured over the printed material at the back of the indicator and carries an adhesive for securing the back of the indicator to a container so the printed material is protected by the resin and is visible from the front of the indicator. The indicator has an actuator channel recessed forward relative to the plane back and extending transversely across the passageway and opening outward at one edge of the indicator. A resin actuator rod is housed in the actuator channel and extends outward from the edge of the indicator for blocking the passageway until actuation of the indicator, and the rod is normally held in blocking position in the channel by the backing sheet and is slidable outward from the channel for unblocking the passageway to actuate the indicator.

DRAWINGS Flg. 1 is a rear elevational view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive indicator with .the backing sheet removed;

FIGS. 2 and 2a are enlarged, cross-sectional views of the indicator of FIG. 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof and showing respective blocking and actuating positions of the actuator rod; and

FIG. 3 is a side-elevational view of the indicator of FIG. 1 showing the backing sheet and a release sheet in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Indicator has a body 11 formed of a substantially transparent resin material. The back 12 of body 11 is generally plane, and storage chambers 13 and indicator chamber 14 and connecting passageways 15 are re cessed forward relative to back 12 to be walled in and protected by resin at the front of indicator 10. A protective rim 16 is formed around body 11, and body 11 is shaped so that it can be injection molded simply as a single piece of clear resin. An actuator channel 17 is also recessed forward from plane back 12, and an actuator rod 18 is housed in channel 17.

Flowable colored particles 19 are housed in storage chambers 13 and retained by a backing sheet 20 shown in FIG. 4 having a preferably pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on each opposite face and initially covered by a protective release sheet 21. Backing sheet 20 also holds actuator rod 18 inchannel 17, and the adhesive coating on the forward face of backing sheet 20 faces into indicatorchamber 14 so that if colored particles 19 flow into indicator chamber 14 on tilt or inversion of indicator 10, some of the particles 19 stick to backing sheet 20 and provide a permanent indication that the indicator has been tilted. Indicator 10 is secured to a container by removing release sheet 21 and pressing the back of indicator 10, against the container wall, and after actuation of indicator 10, any inversion or tilt of the container can be detected.

On prior art indicators of this type, printed information including directions and instructions was printed on the front face of the indicator and such printed material was formed as a label sheet overlying the front face of the indicator. During rough handling of containers such printing became scuffed, torn, or abraded to deface the appearance of the indicator. The inventive indicator applies printed material 22 directly to plane back 12 of resin body 11 so that printed material 22 is protected by body 11 and yet visible through body 11 from the front of indicator 10. In addition to the direction UP, as shown in FIG. I, printed material formed on back 12 also includes attractive coloring, other directions, a trademark, trading name, and any other desired information. In such position printed material 22 is secure from any deterioration during rough handling of containers.

Resin rod 18 preferably has a transverse handle or grip 23 at its outer end extending beyond edge 24 of body 11 so that rod 18 can be gripped by handle 23 and pulled outward from the blocking position of FIG. 2 to the actuated position of FIG. 2a. In the position of FIG. 2, rod 18 blocks off passageways 15 and prevents particles 19 from entering indicator chamber 14. When moved to the actuated position of FIG. 2a, rod 18 opens passageways 15 to actuate indicator l0 and allow particles 19 to flow into indicator chamber 14 if indicator 10 is tilted or inverted.

Rod 18 has a thickened end region 25 blocking passageways 15 until actuation, and a stop edge 26 that engages an abutment 27 in channel 17 as shown in FIG. 2a to limit the outward movement of rod 18. Thickened end 25 then remains in the outer part of channel 17 to prevent any leakage of particles 19 out of channel 17, and rod 18 is thin .enough to be breakable over edge 24 of body 11 as shown in FIG. 2a to prevent rod 18 from being pushed back into the blocking position of FIG. 2.

Improved indicator 10 as formed of resin material, is more durable and more attractive, and is also simply and cheaply made compared to prior art indicators. Its protected printing material 22 is more attractive and is damage proof, and rod 18 affords a simple way of both blocking and actuating the indicator securely and easily.

I claim:

1. In a tilt or inversion indicator having a storage chamber containing flowable colored particles and an indicator chamber into which said particles are free to flow through a connecting passageway upon tilting or inversion of said indicator, the improvement comprisa. said indicator being molded of transparent resin material;

b. said indicator having a generally plane back;

c. said storage and indicator chambers and said passageway being recessed forward relative to said plane back and being protected by said resin mate- 3 rial;

d. printed material formed directly on said plane back around said storage and indicator chambers and said passageway to be read through said transparent resin from the front of said indicator;

e. a backing sheet covering over said printed material and said storage and indicator chambers;

f. adhesive means on the rear of said backing sheet for securing said back of said indicator to a container so said printed material is protected by said resin material and is visible through said resin material;

g. said indicator having an actuator channel extending transversely across said passageway and opening outward at one edge of said indicator;

h. a stop in said actuator channel;

i. a resin actuator rod housed in said actuator channel and extending outward from said one edge of said indicator for blocking said passageway until actuation of said indicator;

j. said rod being normally held in said blocking position in said channel by said backing sheet and being movable outward from said channel for unblocking said passageway to actuate said indicator; and

k. said rod having an abutment for engaging said stop in said channel to limit said outward sliding motion of said rod.

2. The indicator of claim 1 wherein the outer end of said rod has gripping means transverse to said rod.

3. The indicator of claim 1 wherein said rod is manually breakable over said edge of said indicator when said rod is moved to said unblocking position.

4. The indicator of claim 3 wherein said channel includes a stop and said resin rod has an abutment engaging said stop to limit said outward sliding motion of said rod. 

1. In a tilt or inversion indicator having a storage chamber containing flowable colored particles and an indicator chamber into which said particles are free to flow through a connecting passageway upon tilting or inversion of said indicator, the improvement comprising: a. said indicator being molded of transparent resin material; b. said indicator having a generally plane back; c. said storage and indicator chambers and said passageway being recessed forward relative to said plane back and being protected by said resin material; d. printed material formed directly on said plane back around said storage and indicator chambers and said passageway to be read through said transparent resin from the front of said indicator; e. a backing sheet covering over said printed material and said storage and indicator chambers; f. adhesive means on the rear of said backing sheet for securing said back of said indicator to a container so said printed material is protected by said resin material and is visible through said resin material; g. said indicator having an actuator channel extending transversely across said passageway and opening outward at one edge of said indicator; h. a stop in said actuator channel; i. a resin actuator rod housed in said actuator channel and extending outward from said one edge of said indicator for blocking said passageway until actuation of said indicator; j. said rod being normally held in said blocking position in said channel by said backing sheet and being movable outward from said channel for unblocking said passageway to actuate said indicator; and k. said rod having an abutment for engaging said stop in said channel to limit said outward sliding motion of said rod.
 2. The indicator of claim 1 wherein the outer end of said rod has gripping means transverse to said rod.
 3. The indicator of claim 1 wherein said rod is manually breakable over said edge of said indicator when said rod is moved to said unblocking position.
 4. The indicator of claim 3 wherein said channel includes a stop and said resin rod has an abutment engaging said stop to limit said outward sliding motion of said rod. 